The Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) today announced the 10 winning start-ups of the ninth edition of Start-up Express, a competition designed to foster innovation and entrepreneurship in Hong Kong. The winners, selected from 20 finalists during the Final Pitching Day, span sectors including smart city solutions, green tech, and health tech, reflecting the increasing diversity and practical application of innovative technologies in the city.
The winning start-ups are Alpha AI Technology Limited, BioZein Technology Corporation Limited, GABES Limited, Hay-koze Limited, Homing Therapeutics Limited, Muuse Limited, O-Spheres Limited, PetWell HK Limited, PregnaSense Co. Limited, and Pyramid AI Limited. Notably, BioZein Technology Corporation Limited received the ESG Award for its commitment to sustainability and social impact, while Homing Therapeutics Limited won the My Favourite Start-up Award.
Anna Cheung, Assistant Executive Director of the HKTDC, said: “When we launched Start-up Express in 2018, we had one simple goal: to help Hong Kong start-ups grow and flourish. Since then, we have supported 80 start-ups in building capacity, enhancing their visibility, making connections, finding new partners and investors and seizing opportunities and markets previously out of their reach.” The HKTDC will provide the winners with opportunities to participate in local and overseas business events, helping them build capability, explore markets, and enhance brand awareness.
Jimmy Tao, Chairman of the Hong Kong Startup Council and one of the judges, praised the quality of the start-ups, noting that many have successfully integrated artificial intelligence into practical applications with strong commercial potential. He highlighted that Hong Kong’s start-up ecosystem has flourished, with the number of start-ups reaching a record high of 5,221 last year, an 11% increase year-on-year.
Past winners have benefited from the platform. Taranjit Singh, Chief Technology Officer of Entoptica, a 2025 winner, said participation in HKTDC events helped them secure funding and expand networks. He added that the company sold two prototype products at US$100,000 each during CES 2026, exceeding expectations.
The HKTDC also runs Start-up Express International, which has attracted overseas start-ups from 11 countries since 2022. The fifth edition will be held during Entrepreneur Day in December, supporting overseas winners to establish a presence in Hong Kong and leverage the city as a gateway to the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and international markets.
More information about Start-up Express can be found at https://portal.hktdc.com/startupexpress/en/. Details on the 20 finalists are available at https://portal.hktdc.com/startupexpress/en/s/Top-20. Photos can be downloaded at https://bit.ly/4wu3EFd.
